Failure to ramp up jabs is why Sabah didn’t get interstate travel nod: Luyang rep

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah’s failure to intensify Covid-19 vaccination is the reason why the state has been excluded from the resumption of interstate travel beginning today, said Phoong Jin Zhe.

The state Pakatan Harapan Youth chief said Sabah remains at the bottom of the vaccination table, with under 70% of its adult population fully immunised.

“Since the start of the total lockdown on June 1, I have asked the government to expedite the vaccination process for Sabahans,” he said in a statement today.

“But what has happened is that vaccine supply was insufficient, thus the low vaccination rate.

“This development shows that the government is incompetent, inefficient, and does not have a vision.

“Now, Sabah has to accept this reality, and such a reality will continue to weaken the state economy. Many of Sabah’s youth remain unemployed.”

Last night, state coronavirus spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the Sabah Disaster Committee for Covid-19 will give its recommendation to the state cabinet on lifting the interstate travel ban, and that the matter will be decided only on Wednesday.

“The decision will take into account the adult population that has already been fully vaccinated, which has yet to hit 90% (at around 65%), as a prerequisite set by the federal government on allowing interstate travel.”

This was met with mixed reactions among Sabahans. 

More than 90% or 21.31 million adults in Malaysia have been fully vaccinated. 45.65 million doses have been administered to date.

Cumulative vaccination report by state as of 10 October 2021.#LindungDiriLindungSemua pic.twitter.com/JyoNSnoz5t

— Vaksin COVID-19 ?? (@JKJAVMY) October 11, 2021

Luyang rep Phoong said many Sabah districts have not achieved a 50% vaccination rate.

The former state youth and sports minister said based on CovidNow data, Sabah will see a fully vaccinated adult population rate of 80% only in another 80 days.

Drawing comparisons between states, he said Selangor has achieved a 100% vaccination rate among its adult residents.

He said on July 3, Selangor, which is part of the Klang Valley, was behind Sabah in terms of vaccination, but in just a month, the former recorded the highest jump from 7.2% to 43.4% on August 4.

Sabah, meanwhile, saw a vaccination rate increase from 8.2% to 15.4% in the same period, he said.

Phoong said he believes Sabah will not open for domestic travel on Wednesday. – The Vibes, October 11, 2021